Gems
Archaeologists Find 2,000-Year-Old Gemstones in Drain Beneath a Roman Bathhouse
The stones, known as intaglios, likely fell from the rings of wealthy bathers
You Can Own a Piece of Forrest Fenn's Treasure
The valuable artifacts, hidden in the Rocky Mountains for more than a decade, are going up for auction
Treasure Hunter Unearths 2.38-Carat 'Frankenstone' Diamond
Adam Hardin discovered the impressive brown gem at an Arkansas state park
Did Ancient Nomads Seize Control of a Roman Emerald Mine in Egypt?
Recent excavations suggest the Blemmyes assumed power of the Sikait mining site between the fourth and sixth centuries C.E.
A Huge Black Diamond, Purportedly From Outer Space, Is Now Up for Sale
The gem known as the 'Enigma' is expected to fetch around $7 million at auction, though experts are skeptical of its cosmic origin
Ancient Amethyst Ring Found in Israel May Have Been Worn to Ward Off Hangovers
Found near a Byzantine-era winery, the jewelry likely belonged to a wealthy, high-status individual
Silver Medieval Seal Featuring Engraved Roman Gem Unearthed in England
The rare artifact depicts war god Mars and Victoria, the mythological personification of victory
Earth's Oldest Minerals Hold Clues About the Likely Start of Plate Tectonics
New research reveals how one of Earth’s defining geologic features likely formed—and set the stage for the emergence of life
How the World's Largest Aquamarine Gem Came to Be
The Dom Pedro Aquamarine is one of the largest mineral crystals found inside Earth's rocks
How 'Wonder Woman 1984' Was Filmed at the Smithsonian
The blockbuster saw the superhero working as a museum anthropologist. But how accurate was its depiction of the Institution at the time?
Why Kamala Harris' Pearls Have a Special Significance
The vice president-elect's ties to her sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha, run deep, and her jewelry lets that shine
Why Scientists Find Snowflakes Cool
Mineralogists study snowflakes to learn more about how water in its solid phase behaves
Decade-Long Search for Rocky Mountain Treasure Yields Trove Worth $2 Million
Nine clues embedded in a 24-line poem led to art dealer Forrest Fenn's hidden chest of gold, gems and rare artifacts
Scientists and Miners Team Up to Preserve Opalized Fossils
An ambitious collaboration between paleontologists and a local mining community seeks to conserve the rare fossilized remains
This 100-Million-Year-Old Squid Relative Was Entrapped in Amber
The ancient ammonite was preserved alongside the remains of at least 40 other marine and terrestrial creatures
This Petite, 99-Million-Year-Old Millipede Was Entrapped in Amber
The diminutive arthropod represents not only a previously unknown species, but an entirely separate Callipodida suborder
Gemologist Finds Insect Entombed in Opal Rather Than Amber
The unusual specimen appears to contain an open-mouthed insect complete with 'fibrous structures extending from the appendages'
The Whitney Flame Topaz Smolders in Vibrant Red
A new gemstone at the Natural History Museum is already igniting wonder in viewers
The Odyssey of the World's Largest Freshwater Pearl
The gem, which was was recently bought at auction, was likely found in China in the 1700s and was once owned by Russia's Catherine the Great
World's Fifth-Largest Diamond Found in Lesotho
The 910-carat gem is a D-color, type-IIa stone, meaning it is completely colorless and has no visible impurities
